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Page 381
central party around Ian, the first minutes before contact were slow-paced and easy. Ian and Arundel again engaged each other in a rather formal duel. The thrusts and slashes were powerful enough, but they were aimed where it was certain they could be easily caught on shield or opposing sword.
For Ian, the formal opening was a mercy. The bruised muscles that Alinor and her maids had tended faithfully through the night had stiffened. The blows he launched did not have the power he usually commanded, and his responses to Arundel's attack were painful and dangerously slow. As if he recognized the problem, Arundel held Ian longer than normal, pressing him harder and then a little harder still, increasing the tempo and force of his blows, making Ian stretch and bend to guard himself and riposte. At first, Ian was scarcely aware of the favor, his attention being wholely absorbed by his own physical pain and his efforts to prevent it from interfering with his action.
As he warmed, Ian recognized his opponent's consideration and knew it for what it was. Tourneys were not like chess games or wars. The capture of the "king" of the opposition would not end the play or bring victory to the opposing party. Of course, quite honest efforts would be made to capture him, Ian knew, because the horse and armor ransom of the leaders was higher than that of any other knight on the field. It was assumed that the man chosen as leader would be the best and most skillful fighter, and thus the reward for defeating him must logically be the highest. Ian uttered a bark of laughter as that thought crossed his mind. It would be very funny if he should be unhorsed and taken prisoner by some innocent bystander with a mighty arm who would, all unknowingly, frustrate his king's intentions and win royal animosity.
That he should permit or encourage such a solution to his problem simply never occurred to Ian. Subcon-

 
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